Red Cross Disaster Response Team Seeking Volunteers

The Canadian Red Cross wants you to join its disaster response team for the greater Saint John area.

The organization trains members of the public to emergency situations. Volunteers are on call for a few days each month to assist people who need help. That could mean arranging emergency shelter, clothing, food or other support for folks affected by disasters.

An information session will be held Monday evening from 6:30 to 7:30 at the Red Cross office at 70 Landsdowne Avenue.

According to Red Cross disaster associate Mark Belliveau, it'll be a great opportunity to learn more abut what the service does locally, and how you can  volunteer.

Two Parades Today

It's double parade day in the city and out in the valley -- the Lancaster Santa Claus Parade kicks off at 1pm on Main Street West and will make it's way towards Catherwood Street and Fairville Boulevard.

Parade Chair Blaine Harris tells CHSJ News 65 floats are taking part this year.

For those in the valley, the 13th Annual Santa Claus parade kicks off tonight at KVHS at 6 o'clock.  The parade will go along the Hampton Road.

You're being asked to bring food donations to both events.

Report Says CBS Move Will Have Huge Economic Impact

Enterprise Saint John commissioning a report on the economic impact of Canadian Blood Services moving to Dartmouth on the city and province.


Jupia Consultants of Moncton finds the business case for moving does not seem strong and questions why New Brunswick taxpayers should foot a large portion of the cost when it's the Nova Scotia facility that needed to be replaced.

The report also says decisions like this should include an assessment of the local economic impacts.


In terms of numbers, Jupia Consultants claims the move will result in 1 million dollars in direct employment income lost and 31 jobs.


It says the lost GDP impact will be over 1.2 million dollars and lost taxation to government exceeds $400,000.

Drug Bust In Rothesay

This had to turn a few heads...RCMP and the Rothesay Regional Police arresting three people in a mall parking lot on Lacey Drive about 7 last night.
It's the result of a joint investigation into the trafficking of prescription drugs.

A 28-year-old woman and man along with a 34-year-old man taken into custody without incident and police seizing a quantity of prescription drugs and cash.

The two 28-year-olds are due in court in March while the other man remains in custody for a parole violation.

Port Makes $4000 Food Donation

The food banks in every corner of Saint John will have full cupboards for a while thanks to a donation from the Saint John Port Authority.
Esther Shanks of the Community Food Basket on Charlotte Street tells CHSJ News it began as a temporary measure in 1984.

She calls that an absolute disgrace but, she's not blaming the city adding she's never been in a city more generous than Saint John.  Saint John Port Authority CEO Jim Quinn says part of the reason they can provide this help to the food banks is because of the support already given to the Joshua Group.

Quinn says they raised $36,000 for the Joshua Group ahead of schedule and we able to divert fundraising efforts to other local groups.

The Port Authority giving a donation of food and other goods totalling $4000 to the North, West, East and Uptown food banks.

Tree Lighting Ceremony Tonight

The city will be getting into the Christmas spirit tonight with its 27th annual tree lighting ceremony.

There will be carollers, treats, and a visit from Santa.

Everyone is invited and it gets underway at 6 o'clock at the Loyalist Plaza next to Market Square.

Housing Alternatives Celebrates 30 Years

Housing Alternatives getting honoured with a community breakfast today as it celebrates 30 years of helping to develop affordable housing in Saint John.

Brenda Murphy is the Coordinator for the Urban Core Support Network and she tells CHSJ News while great strides have been made, more affordable housing is needed in the city as there are hundreds still on waiting lists.

She says the group is the unsung hero on this issue.

Housing Alternatives manages 550 units in the city.

President Of One Change Honoured By The "Y"

The YM-YWCA is honouring the President of One Change, Scott Crawford with its 2011 Peace Medal.

Crawford says residents of the old north end are not just sitting back and waiting for others to make their neighbourhood better.

The projects on the go include setting up a computer training centre and, with the help of doctors, a new model health centre to better deliver primary healthcare in the priority neighbourhoods.
 
One Change also has made a proposal to the city to take over the day to day running of the North End Community Centre.

Seinfeld To Visit Saint John

Now here's a stocking stuffer to get excited about: Tickets to see Jerry Seinfeld when he visits Harbour Station next year.

The actor most famous for his show about nothing is returning to his first love--stand-up comedy.

The tour will visit Saint John on February 3 and tickets go on sale next Saturday at 10am.

Ticket prices ranges from $55 to $105 dollars.

For ticket info, click here

Bus Strike Averted For Time Being

It was feared bus service between cities in this province and Prince Edward Island might be disrupted by strike action within 72 hours but that's not going to happen.    

The union representing Acadian Lines employees gave the company strike notice  yesterday but has now withdrawn it.

A new offer will be presented to the union on the issues still in dispute and a vote on that proposal by bus drivers, mechanics and maintenance workers will be held Sunday and Monday.

If the offer is rejected, December 2nd is being talked about as the new date for strike action if it comes to pass.

    

Prostitution Arrests Made By City Police

City Police making another sweep through the Village area around Waterloo and Cobourg Streets where the sex trade seems to flourish. 

Two women in their thirties will be charged in early January with communicating for the purpose of prostitution.

Province Releases Totals For Unconditional Grants

Municipalities, rural communities and local service districts will receive $69,012,690 in unconditional grants in 2012.

Saint John will be receiving about 19 million dollars while Quispamsis is getting over 800-thousand and Rothesay a little over 400-thousand.

Rothesay Mayor Bill Bishop tells CHSJ News with these figures coming in along with provincial assessments, the town budget for next year will be finalized soon.

He believes the town will be able to hold the tax rate.

There was a slight reduction in funding overall and local service districts will see a slight increase in taxes to reflect administration costs in LSD's.

2012 Municipal Tax Base Released

The province releasing the 2012 municipal tax base and Saint John and the surrounding areas are all in the black ink.

Figures show the tax base in Saint John has gone up by about 319 million dollars while assessments in Quispamsis sand Rothesay have also gone up -- 85 million and 45 million respectively.

According to Local Government Minister Bruce Fitch, the tax bases for municipalities and rural communities have increased by $1.95 billion.

That means $29.5 million in new tax revenue.

Students Ready For Tin Can Challenge

Get ready to see some crazy shapes like boats and dragons made from canned goods -- the 4th Annual Tin Can Challenge takes place tonight which has students compete in a giant sculpture-building contest in order to raise awareness about homelessness and the needy.

Project Coordinator Colin McDonald tells CHSJ News we have a homelessness problem here in the city but it tends to be hidden as we don't have clusters of people on the streets.

He says homeless youth tend to couch surf until they overstay their welcome.

He adds we need to have an emergency shelter for youth that will get them off the street as quickly as possible.

The 4th Annual Tin Can Challenge gets underway at 7 o'clock at the Marco Polo Cruise Terminal.

Flag Flies For AIDS Awareness Week

There's a new flag on the flying on the pole outside of city hall.

The Mayor raising a flag for AIDS Awareness Week.

Executive Director of AIDS Saint John Julie Dingwell tells CHSJ News there are still a lot of misconceptions about HIV and AIDS, such as some people believing there is currently a cure for the disease.

She says stigma and discrimination is still present for people with HIV and they're afraid if people found out they are infected, it would cost them their job or home.

According to the Canadian AIDS Society, the cost of HIV is $1.3 Million per person infected.

Municipal Operations Defends Street Plowing In the Storm

The City's Municipal Operations department defending it's work clearing streets and sidewalks in yesterday's storm.
Kevin Rice tells CHSJ News says the City's equipment and personnel were as prepared as they possibly could be.

He says the motorists on the road did not have winter tires and did not drive appropriate to the conditions.  Rice tells us he takes issue with comments being made that they were not prepared and the roads were in bad shape.

Rice says he'd invite people to look at all other municipalities in the Maritimes along with bigger cities including Montreal and Ottawa who experienced the very same conditions yesterday.

Plowing By Province During Storm Criticised

It likely won't help as you are shovelling out but yesterday's snowfall was record-breaking.

With 20 centimetres by last night, we shattered a 55-year-old record set back in 1956 when when got 17.5 centimetres.

(Photo Courtesy of Joe Comeau)

Not everyone is happy with the plowing that was done. Carter Lang, who works at Point Lepreau and lives along Route 845 on the Kingston Peninsula, tells CHSJ News he barely made it home last night and the plowing that was done is in stark contrast to the standards in past years.

Lang fears what will happen in the rural areas this winter if more snowplows are taken out of service because of the sky high deficit.

Saint John Cleans Up After Getting Hammered

The cleanup continues this morning in the aftermath of the first snowstorm of the season which hit Saint John hard. 

City Police say there were more than 50 crashes by late afternoon but curiously just a few in the Valley. The most serious collision involved three vehicles on Loch Lomand Road by the Villa that sent one man to hospital. 

20 centimeters of snow had fallen by 9 last night. By contrast Yarmouth got only 4 centimeters and just a dusting in Fredericton but Halifax received 31 centimeters.

The Department of Transportation says it will be in charge of the winter maintenance along the Harbour Bridge at a cost of 275 thousand dollars.

The long range weather forecast is calling for milder temperatures beginning tomorrow lasting right through next Thursday and we are expecting rain on Sunday night.

Gas Prices Drop

You'll be paying less for gas after the weekly setting.

Self serve regular has dropped again by over 2 cents a litre while diesel has also gone down by almost 3 and a half cents. 

Heating Oil is also lower at $1.19.7 a litre. That's a decline of almost 3 cents while propane did go up by almost a cent to $1.16.3.

CEO Of Canadian Blood Services Says Safety Concerns Are Unwarranted

The CEO of Canadian Blood Services writing an open letter to all New Brunswick to clarify what he calls misconceptions about the consequences of moving its production lab from Saint John to Darthmouth.

Dr. Graham Sher (Sheer) tells CHSJ News one of the biggest falsehoods is the idea that there will be a shortage of blood in the city.

He says two-thirds of all blood in Canada is already stored at hospitals and CBS will also keep an inventory of blood products in the city.

He adds there will be no preferential treatment to hospitals in Halifax simply because the production site is closer.

Child Poverty Rate Down, Youth Unemployment Up

14,000 children in this province lives in poverty. That alarming statistic based on 2009 is actually a bit lower than the previous year.
Human Development Council Executive Director Randy Hatfield tells CHSJ News the 2009 information may not reflect what is happening now.

He says looking at more current data this province has some serious issues with both social assistance caseloads and food back usage up.

He says they were struck by the level of youth unemployment with 18.34 per cent of 15 to 24 year olds unemployed.  That stat does not include students.

Transport Has Jacknifed Near Pennfield

 

It's a mess on the highway near Pennfield after a transport jackknifed.

Traffic is moving in one direction only and police are asking cars to pull over to the side of the road to allow the plows to get through.

One driver says the roads are barely plowed in white-out conditions.

No City Buses After 6pm Due To Weather

Saint John Transit telling our newsroom that all buses will be off the road by 6pm due to the weather.

Liberals Say Province Missed Chance To Save Money On Bridge Snow Removal

The provincial Liberals are not happy with the province's 11th hour decision to have the Department of Transportation handle snow removal from the Harbour Bridge.

Transportation Critic Rick Doucette tells CHSJ News the work could have been more cost effective if they had negotiated earlier with a contractor.

Doucette could not provide a figure as to how much could have been saved but says snow removal should have been planned for during the original negotiations with the feds.

Province Will Handle Snow Removal On Harbour Bridge

The Department of Transportation will do the winter maintenance for the Saint John Harbour Bridge.


The question of who will clear the snow and ice off the bridge was left in the air after the province took ownership of the bridge from Ottawa.


Transportation Minister Claude Williams says it will cost the province 275-thousand dollars and two other options were looked at : getting the city to do it or to outsource it to contractor.
 
The two plows that were used by the Saint John Harbour Bridge authority will be used by the Department of Transportation to plow the bridge.


The DOT will use the two plows that were used by the Saint John Harbour Bridge Authority.

The Worst Is Yet To Come With Today's Storm

The worst is not over yet with heavy snowfall this afternoon and this evening.
Environment Canada Meterologist Claude Cote tells CHSJ News between 5 and 10 centimetres on the ground in Greater Saint John.

Some flights in and out of the Saint John Airport are delayed or cancelled.
It would be wise to check ahead first before making the trek out there today.

St. Stephen and Sussex RCMP warning that road conditions are very poor and travel is not recommended.
The Mounties responding to numerous reports of vehicles going off the road or colliding with other vehicles in extremely slippery conditions.

New Polling About Attitudes On Abortion

Abortion remains a controversial issue for most people in the province and the region as a whole according to the latest polling done by Environics. 

More than 11 hundred abortions were performed in the province in 2009. Peter Ryan of New Brunswick Right to Life tells CHSJ News 69 per cent of the respondents in Atlantic Canada want to see some legal limits and women are more opposed to abortion than men. 92 per cent are against abortions based on gender.

Ryan says the polling has found only 20 per cent support unrestricted public funding of abortion but the politicians aren't listening.

He accuses them of being held hostage by a vocal minority.

Storm Warning Closes Schools

Get ready for our first visit from Old Man Winter today even though it's not officially winter yet.

Schools have been shut down for the day in Districts 6, 8 and 10 along with the Community College in St. Andrews.
 
Kim Petrash of Environment Canada tells CHSJ News how much snow you get will depend on where you are with up to 20 centimeters inland and anywhere from 10 to 15 along parts of the coast where 15 millimters of rain is being forecast. 

The storm will be at its most intense this afternoon and is expected to clear out after midnight with above freezing temperatures on the way for tomorrow and Friday.

CFIB Applauds City For Leadership In Pension Issues

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business is giving the city a pat on the back for trying to reign it's pension deficit.

President and CEO Catherine Swift tells CHSJ News with the city suspending indexing and removing overtime pay from pensionable earning, along with the province taking a closer look at public sector pensions, things are moving in the right direction.

She says generous pensions, the sheer number of baby-boomers and early retirement options have all come together make pension plans simply unaffordable.

She adds it's not a question fairness but a matter of affordability.

Strong Smell Turns Out Not To Be Natural Gas

Alot of calls coming into the fire department yesterday afternoon from people who live in the area from Pokiok Road to University Avenue and smelled something strange in the air.

District Chief Joe Armstrong says they thought it was the smell of natural gas but that's not what it turned out to be.

There was the release of a sulphur product from Irving Pulp and Paper into the atmosphere for about 3 minutes.

The smell eventually dissipated. The Provincial Environment Department was notified.

Housing Starts To Remain Sluggish Next Year

Next year will not be a good one for new housing starts in the province. That forecast is coming from the Altus Group and its chief economist Peter Norman.

Norman tells CHSJ News he doesn't expect to see activity picking up until mid to late 2013 when the economy is expected to be stronger.

He also says the large number of homes for sale in Saint John also tends to depress new housing starts but this area's status as an energy hub bodes well for the long term future.

Winner Announced In Hospital Home Lottery

Give Sarah Jacquard of Saint John a hearty congratulations next time you see her -- she has won the Grand Prize showhome as part of the Hospital Home Lottery.

The home is located on Crosswind Crescent in Rothesay and is valued at 750-thousand dollars.

Other big winners are Stephen Delaney of Quispamsis who won the early bird prize which is either the Mercedes Benz roadster or 60 thousand dollars in cash and Ann Lockhart who won the 50/50 cash prize of almost 195 thousand dollars.

The proceeds from this year's draw went towards the Saint John Hospital Foundation, the New Brunswick Health Centre, and Mindcare New Brunswick.

The lottery was completely sold out this year and the list of all the winners will be released on November 30th.

More Underwear and Sex Toys Reported Stolen

RCMP receiving three additional reports of stolen underwear and sex toys.

That brings the total of thefts to 17.

The incidents have occurred in the Saint-Paul, Sainte-Marie, and the Bouctouche area. In all cases, no one has been home during the thefts and no one has been hurt

Police have increased patrols in the area and if you have any information, you're being asked to call Crime Stoppers or call police.

Two Arrests After Simpson Drive Robbery

City police getting a call last night about an armed robbery at a Simpson Drive home where two armed men entered the house with a 20 year old woman alone inside.  While she was not hurt, the men left with undisclosed items.

Two men were later arrested near Simpson Drive. 
19-year-old Brandon Pattman was in provincial court on robbery charges.  He will be held until a bail hearing tomorrow.

A 16-year-old was also in court pleading guilty to the robbery charge.  He was released on conditions and placed on house arrest until sentencing on January 5th.

Fire Crews Investigate Odour In North End

Fire crews checking out reports of a strong odour, possibly a gas leak, in the Millidgeville area.

However, there has been no confirmation of a gas leak and the fire department believes the smell could be coming from the pulp and paper mill.

Wet and White Weather Tomorrow

Gas up the snowblower and break out the shovels -- our first taste of winter is coming tomorrow morning.

Environment Canada Meteorologist Claude Cote tells CHSJ News the fun should begin around 8 o'clock tomorrow morning.

10 to 15 mm of rain and snow is expected to fall in Saint John while the valley, Sussex, and Grand Bay-Westfield should see about 15 to 25 cm of the white stuff.

Cote adds it will be windy but the snow and rain should let up by midnight.

The weather system will then move on towards PEI and Newfoundland.

New Development Off Loch Lomond Road Not Welcome By Some

The early approval to the building of bungalows and garden homes on 97 lots off Loch Lomond Road not sitting well with members of the neighbourhood.

The homes will be built between Ganong Road and Pauline Street and Seamus Hanley, who lives on Old Lake Trail tells CHSJ News people moved into that area for large properties and the scenery.

He feels the developer will try to make it into a high density area in order to maximize profit.

However, developer Gary Vincent argues that the demand is there for bungalows and garden homes and the city is losing people to the outlying communities.

Union Street Is Open To Traffic

To the joy of many, Peel Plaza project manager Bill Edwards announcing the infrastructure work on Union street is complete for this year.
Cue the Hallelujah chorus as many a Saint John motorist can finally drive the length of Union street after months of construction.

Edwards tells CHSJ News the street and sidewalks are again open to the public.

He says the base coat of asphalt is down so they can plow the street and the sidewalks this winter.
He adds you will see no more construction work on Union Street this winter, it will resume next spring.

Campbell Says Imitation Is Best Form Of Flattery

He's calling it a good idea -- and -- he says he was first out of the gate with the suggestion -- Councillor at large candidate John Campbell is flattered Councillor Donnie Snook is pushing to merge the Parking and Transit Commissions to reduce costs and possibly avoid proposed cuts in transit service.
Campbell tells CHSJ News he first raised the issue on his Facebook page two weeks ago as a way to help make the service more attractive to potential riders.
He also believes taxis should be included in any overall public transit discussions and solutions.

Ferry Back On Its Run

The Department of Transportation telling us both ferries are now operating at Gondola Point this morning after one of them was out of service because of mechanical problems.

Council Needs To Use Survey Results In Decision-Making

Common Council taking the results of the 2011 Citizen Survey to heart.

The quality of city roads came out as the number one concern for Saint Johners and the percentage of citizens satisfied with city streets dropping from 34 percent to 22 percent year over year.

Councillor Peter McGuire says council needs to take that feedback seriously and use it to help make decisions come budget time.

Councillor Donnie Snook says all councillors should talk to their constituents about the survey at their next ward meeting.

City Transit Should Not Be Limited To One Percent Increase

Councillor Donnie Snook says the reductions in transit services is completely unacceptable.

10 jobs will be lost and service will be reduced on Boxing Day due to budget constraints.

Snook says the one percent budget increase to city transit should be removed and savings should be found elsewhere.

According to him, having people in vulnerable communities worry about how they're going to get to work or buy groceries is wrong.

He suggests the transit and parking commission should be consolidated and city hall's administrative and legislative budget should be looked at for possible cuts.

In the meantime, Council has put through a motion to have Vibrant Communities and Saint John Transit organize community consultations regarding the impact of the service changes.

15 Out Of Their Homes After North End Fire

Up to 15 people are displaced after an apartment building fire on Anglin Drive in the North end.

The call came in about 4:30 of the front porch on fire and the blaze did get into one unit of the four unit building.

No one was hurt but the one unit did suffer fire damage and two others water damage.

The Red Cross will be providing help to the tenants who are out of their homes for the timebeing.

Fire investigators are looking into the cause of the blaze.

New East Side Tim Horton's Opens

 

The newest location of Tim Horton's in Saint John opened for business at 5am this morning.

It's located on Bayside Drive near the Causeway.

Back Bay Man Drowns In Weekend Accident

RCMP tell CHSJ News the man who drowned in the Bay of Fundy on Saturday is 45-year-old Norman Nathan Parker of Back Bay.

It's believed the man and his 10-year-old son were forced to abandon their boat after suffering engine problems.

The St. George Fire chief says the boy swam about 100 metres in the Bay of Fundy and walked at least three kilometres to try and find help.
Sean Morton says the man was not wearing a lifejacket at the time but, they do not know if the boy was wearing one.

United Way Names New Executive Director

 The Board of Directors of the United Way of Greater Saint John announcing Wendy MacDermott is their new Executive Director.  

President Bob Crowley says her success in forming strong ties in the community at Vibrant Communities Saint John is one of the reasons they believe she is the right person for the job. 

MacDermott says she is passionate about working in new and innovative ways to find solutions to complex issues such as poverty reduction

For more information, click here

No Cause Yet In Fire Near Hartland

A woman is temporarily homeless after a fire yesterday gutted her mobile home in Howard Brook northeast of Hartland.
 
Luckily she wasn't home at the time so no one was hurt.
Red Cross volunteers are helping her find somewhere to stay for now along with clothing and food.
 
The mobile home was engulfed in flames when the Hartland fire department arrived shortly after 1:30pm.
A cause is not yet known.
 

Bus Cuts Will Return Service To 08 Levels

Bus service in the city will be back to where it was in 2008 after the latest round of cuts take effect on Boxing Day. That warning from the President of local 1182 of the Amalgamated Transit Union, Tom McGraw who tells CHSJ News alot of people who depend on the bus to get about will be hurt.

He says it will impact the senior who has to get to the doctor or the person heading to a food bank because unless you live on a main bus line, the people who use the feeder lines will be hurt severely.

McGraw is holding out some hope Common Council may have a change of heart is there is enough opposition to the cuts on the part of Saint Johnners.

Liberal Caucas Takes On Movember

For a few weeks now, you may have noticed the Liberals MLA's are looking at little fuzzier.
It's not a caterpillar on the their lip but a moustache for Movember.

Opposition Leader Victor Boudreau tells CHSJ News says they wanted to get involved because some members of the party have struggled with prostate cancer recently.

He says it's a program where they can raise money and awareness and have a little fun while doing it.

Seven members of the Liberal caucus including Boudreau are taking part in Movember.
To follow their progress, click here

Fundy Health Centre Hours Change

The Fundy Health Centre in Black's Harbour announcing changes to their hours.

They will now be open Monday to Friday from 8am to 8pm and on the weekend from 8am to 4pm.

The walk-in clinic has the same hours with no appointment required.
The on site blood collection and specimen drop off runs Monday to Saturday between 8 and 10:30am.

For emergencies, you should go to the nearest Emergency Department or call 911.
For Telecare, call 811.

For more info click here